Sleep Deprivation and Back Pain: The Link
By Sara Butler
Most people have a few sleepless nights under their belt. It happens. But if you're regularly not getting enough sleep at night and you're experiencing back pain or some other form of chronic pain, there may be a link between the two. The chiropractors at The Joint Chiropractic want you to think about all the ways every part of your health and wellness impacts another. Here's what you need to know about sleeplessness and back pain -- including how to get more sleep with less pain!
The Perception of Pain
When you lose out on sleep consistently, it leaves you more than tired. It has an impact on the hormones that help control your appetite and your mood, it increases your risk of diabetes, and it doesn't allow your central nervous system to work as it should, sending and receiving signals to and from your brain to the rest of your body.
But it also has an impact on your perception of pain. Researchers have found that even small amounts of sleep loss can have an influence on your body's ability to resist pain. So, it stands to reason that if you suffer from back pain or other joint pain, your sleep deficit may just be making it all worse.
Improve Your Sleep
The chiropractors at The Joint work with many patients to help them resolve issues that are keeping them from getting quality sleep at night. Chiropractic care also has been found in studies to help people sleep at night, according to the American Chiropractic Association. Aside from seeing the chiropractors at The Joint Chiropractic regularly for chiropractic adjustments to ensure your body is working as it should, you can:
- Be consistent - Go to bed at about the same time every night and awake at about the same time each morning and don't think you can make up for lost sleep on the weekends
- Address pain - If the pain is keeping you up at night, talk to the chiropractors at The Joint to find out how to address it so you can rest
- Create a routine - Before you go to bed each night, do something to help you relax and get in sleep mode
- Exercise and eat healthy - Regular exercise and a balanced diet can do wonders for your quality of sleep
At The Joint Chiropractic, your overall health and wellness matters. The chiropractors want to work with you to help you find relief so you can sleep well at night.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Fairfax, Va.